Am I the only one who rides the emotional roller coaster? After crying and telling Sarah goodbye I started focusing on going home. I was so excited to see Mike, Ivey, Mom, Duke and Leo! I am used to being with them daily so ten days is a long absence in our relationships. I knew Mike and Duke would come and pick us up. Usually Mom rides with him but she was cooking us a fresh vegetable lunch with her famous fried cornbread!
The whole trip I anticipated seeing everyone. I was so excited to see Mike waiting at the airport for me! It was so good to just know I am home! Then he took my cousin and I over to Mom's for a late lunch! As soon as I hugged her she told me, again, "I hope you had fun because you are not going any where else!" I called Ivey but she was working. But just knowing we were all in town was good.
As I anticipated on the flight home I thought about us going to our eternal home. I used to think that as soon as I get to Heaven I will run to my Dad first. We were so close and I miss him so much! I miss his positivity! I miss having a second prayer warrior! I miss our laughter and our serious talks. I miss our laughing! I miss seeing him with my girls because they all shared such a deep love. I miss having someone in the world think I am perfect! Mostly I miss seeing him with Mom. I cannot wait to see Dad!
Over the last years my thoughts have changed. This is just the gospel according to Jill! I think that when I get to Heaven I will be so in awe of God that nothing else will matter. I think I will drop to my knees so humbled and grateful to be in the presence of my Lord and Savior! I think His presence will be all that matters. At first that made me sad but it doesn't anymore. It doesn't mean I love my Dad any less but this will be the first time I have seen my Heavenly Father, physically, face to face. I believe Dad will be the first one in the receiving line! And it will be so wonderful!
I have always respected Billy Graham's teaching and he said that God would not hold that joy from us talking about us being reunited with our loved ones. These are his words. "We know it first of all from the Bible’s explicit teaching. When King David’s infant son was taken from him, David felt his loss very keenly—but he also knew he would see him again. David declared, 'Can I bring him back again? I will go to him' (2 Samuel 12:23). When Jesus was transfigured (or changed) before the eyes of some of His disciples and they glimpsed His heavenly glory, we’re told that Moses and Elijah appeared with Him—proof that we retain our individuality in heaven (see Luke 9:28-36). We know it too because the Bible tells us we will be together in heaven. In other words, we won’t be separated from each other, nor will we be absorbed into some kind of faceless mob. At the end of time, 'we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together. … And so we will be with the Lord forever'' (1 Thessalonians 4:17)
I think what is most important is what William Barclay said, "For the Christian, heaven is where Jesus is. We do not need to speculate on what heaven will be like. It is enough to know that we will be forever with Him.
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